Birmingham City star withdrawn from international duty with injury

Birmingham City goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell has had to withdraw from international duty because of an injury.

The 27-year-old was called up for the Northern Ireland squad for their upcoming Nations League matches against Belarus (October 12) and Bulgaria (October 15). If he had played in both fixtures then he would have earned his 50th cap for the Green and White Army.

Peacock-Farrell's injury is down to a shoulder injury. He has been on the bench for the last two games with Ryan Allsop preferred ahead of him, following an error Peacock-Farrell was involved in against Peterborough United.

Allsop looks set to to continue as number one when Birmingham travel to Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday (October 8) night. Peacock-Farrell would have been unavailable for the trip to Shropshire anyway, and so Bradley Mayo would have provided cover to Allsop.

Both Peacock-Farrell and Allsop were signed for fees from Burnley and Hull City this summer, and come with a decent amount of experience as a first-choice goalkeeper. Peacock-Farrell has started more league games, but Allsop’s recent emergence has sparked a debate as to who should be Chris Davies’ first choice goalkeeper.

Paul Robinson, who played for Birmingham City for six years, and made 175 appearances for Blues, hailed how Davies handled the situation. The 45-year-old was part of the coaching staff under Gary Rowett last season, and praised Davies’ boldness in his decision making.

"I think what Chris is doing is what all good managers do," said Robinson, to the BBC.

“They make statements, and no one is comfortable. Birmingham have got a fantastic squad this year especially with the money they've spent. They're two top goalkeepers, especially for League One.

"If one keeper that he feels he's not happy with over the last game, and he feels like Ryan [Allsop]'s the right person for this game, then he's gonna change them, and yeah fair play to him.

“They have got a big squad and they're gonna have to keep a lot of players happy. The rotational side of it, Chris hasn't got a problem to make them big decisions.”